Soul and R&B chord progressions

Lush sevenths, ninths and smooth ii–V moves.

  1. Neo-soul glide

    Imaj7 – iii7 – vi7 – ii7Eb major

    Silky and laid back.

    1. Ebmaj7Imaj7
    2. Gm7iii7
    3. Cm7vi7
    4. Fm7ii7

  2. Soul turnaround

    ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – vi7Eb major

    Classic Motown-era motion.

    1. Fm7ii7
    2. Bb7V7
    3. Ebmaj7Imaj7
    4. Cm7vi7

  3. Descending R&B

    IVmaj7 – iii7 – ii7 – Imaj7Eb major

    Steps down the scale back home; very smooth.

    1. Abmaj7IVmaj7
    2. Gm7iii7
    3. Fm7ii7
    4. Ebmaj7Imaj7

  4. Gospel plagal

    I – IV – iv – IEb major

    The minor iv borrowed from the parallel minor melts back to I.

    1. EbI
    2. AbIV
    3. Abmiv
    4. EbI

Other genres

PopRockBluesJazzCountryFolkSoul and R&BPunk and pop punkMetalLo-fi and chillGospel and worshipMinor-key songwriting

Last updated November 14, 2026.